Question about formats

gatorgal · 09-26-2009, 02:35 PM

I'm new to the Sony Reader and am interested in downloading some free e-books. I went to the Gutenberg site and there's lots of things I'd like to download, but I didn't know which format to use. I'd prefer to use one that is a real e-book format, rather than PDF. Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks,
Lynn

AnemicOak · 09-26-2009, 02:39 PM

See if they have the book you want as an ePub.

Be sure to check the books here at Mobile Read and see if the book you want is available here (either in epub or lrf) as they will be formatted much better. You can also try Feedbooks or Manybooks.

Treven · 09-26-2009, 06:41 PM

I'm becoming a fan of epub; the last few books I've downloaded from this site have all been this format.

kennyc · 09-26-2009, 06:44 PM

Welcome Lynn to MR and to the amazing world of e-books. You have already found one of the best sights for free epub format books.

Enjoy!

easterncoyote · 09-26-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorgal

I'm new to the Sony Reader and am interested in downloading some free e-books. I went to the Gutenberg site and there's lots of things I'd like to download, but I didn't know which format to use. I'd prefer to use one that is a real e-book format, rather than PDF. Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks,
Lynn

Hello Lynn, I am pretty new to the Sony Reader myself. I have found that the epub format from Feedbooks displays very nicely on my 300 Pocket Reader. They have loads of great free books. All the best,
Ian

ardeegee · 09-26-2009, 10:34 PM

I have to say, I've looked at a few ePubs-- and I don't like them. I also don't like LRF files. There is too little text per page even on the smallest font. I strongly prefer "reflowed" PDFs or RTFs or TXT files.

Juliette · 09-27-2009, 06:11 AM

PG ePubs gave me some problems in the past (page size, mainly, which is WEIRD). I still use them, not having calibre because of compatibility problems with current OS; if I had calibre I'd get html files and convert them to ePub. Sometimes I also try my hand with Sigil (freeware for ePub creation), but I find that html from PG is crappier than, say, the one from WikiSource (which is a lot!), and I have to clean it up a bit before use.

Superlucky · 09-27-2009, 06:27 AM

lrf if you want the text justified, epub if you don't.

I've started only buying epubs because I think that's the format that will still be supported in a few years. Sony's ebookstore is going to go all epub in December.

09-26-2009, 02:35 PM	#1
gatorgal Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Sony Pocket Reader (PRS-300)	Question about formats I'm new to the Sony Reader and am interested in downloading some free e-books. I went to the Gutenberg site and there's lots of things I'd like to download, but I didn't know which format to use. I'd prefer to use one that is a real e-book format, rather than PDF. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks, Lynn

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Smashwords - question about buying and formats	texasnightowl	General Discussions	20	08-11-2010 03:16 PM
Question about multiple formats and metadata	ficbot	Calibre	6	01-14-2010 11:20 PM
these formats confuse me.. question	oncdoc	Astak EZReader	7	10-29-2009 10:25 PM
Newbie question, what formats can my Sony PRS 505 read?	Kieron	Sony Reader	22	11-16-2008 02:54 PM

09-26-2009, 02:39 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	See if they have the book you want as an ePub. Be sure to check the books here at Mobile Read and see if the book you want is available here (either in epub or lrf) as they will be formatted much better. You can also try Feedbooks or Manybooks.

09-26-2009, 06:41 PM	#3
Treven Addict Posts: 222 Karma: 680 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: the Left Coast Device: iPad	I'm becoming a fan of epub; the last few books I've downloaded from this site have all been this format.

09-26-2009, 06:44 PM	#4
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Welcome Lynn to MR and to the amazing world of e-books. You have already found one of the best sights for free epub format books. Enjoy!

09-26-2009, 10:34 PM	#6
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	I have to say, I've looked at a few ePubs-- and I don't like them. I also don't like LRF files. There is too little text per page even on the smallest font. I strongly prefer "reflowed" PDFs or RTFs or TXT files.

09-27-2009, 06:11 AM	#7
Juliette I eat books Posts: 601 Karma: 5124 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Milan, Italy Device: Gen3 PRS-505 PRS-600 PB360 PB302 K2 Opus BebookMini OnyxBoox K3 KDXG	PG ePubs gave me some problems in the past (page size, mainly, which is WEIRD). I still use them, not having calibre because of compatibility problems with current OS; if I had calibre I'd get html files and convert them to ePub. Sometimes I also try my hand with Sigil (freeware for ePub creation), but I find that html from PG is crappier than, say, the one from WikiSource (which is a lot!), and I have to clean it up a bit before use.

09-27-2009, 06:27 AM	#8
Superlucky Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 5952 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-350	lrf if you want the text justified, epub if you don't. I've started only buying epubs because I think that's the format that will still be supported in a few years. Sony's ebookstore is going to go all epub in December.

Advert

Advert